Elevator rooms filled with non elevator material

Elevator machine room are intended to only have elevator related material in them.  Too often we find that buildings use this as a storage closet and place items in the elevator room.  In some instances[see picture], the room is filled and we cannot get to the elevator equipment.  

 [You can almost make out the power unit in the back]

As you can see there would be no way for the elevator person or fire department to get into this room in the event of an emergency.  This is not only a violation that will be noted on your annual or semiannual inspections but it is a fire hazard.

Elevator code – The machine room shall only have elevator related material in it

Electrical code – There needs to be proper electrical clearances – in this case there needs to be 36”[240vac] in front of the elevator controller and any electrical items that may need to be maintained such as the power unit and disconnect.

If you are a building owner/manager, take some time to move any non-related elevator equipment from the elevator room.  If you are an elevator inspector this is an item that should be addressed during your inspection more than moving the items out of the way for your inspection to be put back when you leave.  If you are an elevator mechanic you should talk to any onsite owner/manager and call your office so they can notify the appropriate parties.

If you have been in the business for any length of time you have run into this time and time again and while I do not think it will change any time soon, we can always try to get a clear machine room so elevator professionals can have a clean and safe environment to work in.

Other items of interest - Chicago Elevator Association - Night at the Races - Maywood Race Track - 5/14/15 6:00pm - Proceeds to go to CEA scholarship fund $60.00 per person[includes food and drink].  If you come out I will buy you a free drink and give you some great wagering tips[guaranteed wins!].

https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1697630

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

New State of Illinois Elevator Code adopted A17.1 2013

The State of Illinois has a new elevator code A17.1 2013 which was adopted on 2/19/15, information sent out on 4/13/15.  

There are a few changed to the code some of the high lights that effect building owners and elevator contractors are what is expected to be in the elevator room.  Many contractors have chosen to put stickers indicating where to find the Maintenance control plan or maintenance records, some companies have CD’s, some companies have books that cover traction elevators, hydraulic elevators and escalators.  The code is more explicit in expectations of both maintenance records and the maintenance control plan in the new code.  If an elevator inspector does not have a computer with him to view a CD or log into a web site for information or receive an email with the maintenance records or MCP it will make things interesting on how we inspect the new code.  During an inspection in an open territory I have called 1-800 Elevator Company to see if I can get them to send the building owner the MCP or maintenance records and 1-800 Elevator Company said they could not send anything and indicated the sales person would call me the following day.   The sales person called the next day but never got the building owner the information.  As we are a competitor as well as can perform inspections, I did not expect the company to send me the information but I wanted confirmation the building owner had access to it.  When 1 800 Elevator Company’s contract is not renewed and Roadrunner Elevator Company is hired, Roadrunner will not have access to previous repairs or maintenance information.  This, in my opinion, is a problem.

Maintenance control plan[in previous posts we have gone over what is to be in an MCP]

           

            Onsite available to all elevator personnel

            Provided by elevator maintenance contractor

            Describes maintenance tasks & procedures

            Updated as required

 Permits remote(centralized) maintenance of MCP provided there is onsite viewing. 

Note to inspectors – The inspector’s job is not to indicated if the MCP, in his or her opinion, is good or bad, but consistent with the equipment being inspected.  If there is a book with escalator maintenance in it for a traction elevator this would not be acceptable, in my opinion.

Maintenance records - Elevator code

            Maintenance records shall be retained on-site for not less than 5 years.  The date           shall start on the date A17.3 adoption [2/19/15] 

Maintenance records - State of Illinois JCAR[Joint committee on Administrative rules]

Section 1000.190  Conveyance Maintenance, Repair, and Upgrade History

All licensed conveyance contractors shall maintain records on all work conducted for a period of at least 10 years.  Records shall be organized by location and conveyance registration number for ease of review.

Total building evacuation – This is a feature that is in the building fire command center that shall signal the elevator system all floors are to be evacuated.  There is a lot more to this portion of the code which I haven’t had a chance to look into fully.

These are the three items I picked out of the new code that where significant to us, there are other items as well that have been changed from the 2010 to 2013 code.

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Elevator safety – Deaths and injuries on elevators

This last week there were 3 significant accidents with elevator personal.

Steel Mills – Burns Harbor, IN – Elevator mechanic killed by getting hit with counterweights

New Jersey – Inspector examining elevator injured falling off pit ladder

Texas – Elevator mechanic struck in head with elevator - injured

We talk about safety in the trades on a regular basis.  We know what we should and should not do when we are completing elevator work or inspecting elevators.  Unfortunately there will always be accidents, but we can prevent some of them from occurring by using our training and experience.

As field techs we cannot get complacent and we cannot take short cuts. As people who work in the office we cannot pacify building owners by signing work at buildings that are unsafe.  It has to start somewhere.  Everyone in the industry has a say in safe work environments.  Below is a picture of a job site where the building owner had two passenger elevators that they needed repairs on.  We passed on the project because of the conditions of the building.  The building owner wasn't interested in barricading the hoist-ways up correctly after we brought it to their attention.

[There was something wrong at this building - one of 3 open hoistways]

[Door to going down 50']

From top to bottom it is everyone’s responsibility to be safe, these events should not be occurring with the frequency they are.  We work hard at being successful in life, providing for our families and enjoying life, we need to remember that can all end in a split second.

If you have worked in the industry long enough you have been apart of a close call.  Learn from close calls and other accidents and do not make your next one your last call.

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.